Method and apparatus for timing configuration of discovery signal and channel

ABSTRACT

A UE in a wireless communication system supporting a shared spectrum channel access is provided. The method comprises: determining a set of DSCH transmission windows based on a window periodicity, a window duration, and a window offset; determining a first set of SS/PBCH blocks within a DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows, wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed; determining a second set of SS/PBCH blocks across at least two DSCH transmission windows being different DSCH windows of the set of DSCH transmission windows, wherein the second set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed; and receiving at least one SS/PBCH block that is located in the first set of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blocks based on QCL information of the first set of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blocks within the DSCH transmission window.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to:

-   -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/778,065, filed        on Dec. 11, 2018    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/794,190, filed        on Jan. 18, 2019;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/801,842, filed        on Feb. 6, 2019;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/813,868, filed        on Mar. 5, 2019;    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/892,701, filed        on Aug. 28, 2019; and    -   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/896,371, filed        on Sep. 5, 2019.

The content of the above-identified patent document is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to wireless communicationsystems, more specifically, the present disclosure relates to a DMRSsequence design of PBCH to carry more timing information for discoverysignal and channel in a wireless communication system.

BACKGROUND

A communication system includes a downlink (DL) that conveys signalsfrom transmission points such as base stations (BSs) or NodeB s to userequipments (UEs) and an uplink (UL) that conveys signals from UEs toreception points such as NodeBs. A UE, also commonly referred to as aterminal or a mobile station, may be fixed or mobile and may be acellular phone, a personal computer device, or an automated device. AneNodeB (eNB), referring to a NodeB in long-term evolution (LTE)communication system, and a gNodeB (gNB), referring to a NodeB in newradio (NR) communication system, may also be referred to as an accesspoint or other equivalent terminology.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5G or 5G communication system tobe provided for DMRS sequence of PBCH to carry more timing informationfor discovery signal and channel in an advanced communication system.

In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communicationsystem supporting a shared spectrum channel access is provided. The UEcomprises at least one processor configured to: determine a set ofdiscovery signal and channel (DSCH) transmission windows based on awindow periodicity, a window duration, and a window offset; determine afirst set of synchronization signals and physical broadcast channel(SS/PBCH) blocks within a DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows, wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks isquasi-co-located (QCLed); and determine a second set of SS/PBCH blocksacross at least two DSCH transmission windows, the at least two DSCHtransmission windows being different DSCH windows of the set of DSCHtransmission windows, wherein the second set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed.The UE further comprises at least one transceiver operably connected tothe at least one transceiver, the at least one transceiver configured toreceive, from a base station (BS) over a downlink channel supporting theshared spectrum channel access, at least one SS/PBCH block that islocated in the first set of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCHblocks based on QCL information of the first set of SS/PBCH blocks orthe second set of SS/PBCH blocks within the DSCH transmission window ofthe determined set of DSCH transmission windows.

In another embodiment, a base station (BS) in a wireless communicationsystem supporting a shared spectrum channel access is provided. The BScomprises at least one transceiver configured to transmit, to a userequipment (UE) over a downlink channel supporting a shared spectrumchannel access, at least one SS/PBCH block that is located in a firstset of SS/PBCH blocks or a second set of SS/PBCH blocks within at leastone discovery signal and channel (DSCH) transmission window of a set ofDSCH transmission windows. The BS further comprises at least oneprocessor operably connected to the at least one transceiver, the atleast one processor configured to: determine the set of DSCHtransmission windows based on a window periodicity, a window duration,and a window offset; determine the first set of SS/PBCH blocks within aDSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows,wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is quasi-co-located (QCLed); anddetermine the second set of SS/PBCH blocks across at least two DSCHtransmission windows, the at least two DSCH transmission windows beingdifferent DSCH windows of the set of DSCH transmission windows, whereinthe second set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed.

In yet another embodiment, a method of a user equipment (UE) in awireless communication system supporting a shared spectrum channelaccess is provided. The method comprises: determining a set of discoverysignal and channel (DSCH) transmission windows based on a windowperiodicity, a window duration, and a window offset; determining a firstset of synchronization signals and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH)blocks within a DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmissionwindows, wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is quasi-co-located(QCLed); determining a second set of SS/PBCH blocks across at least twoDSCH transmission windows, the at least two DSCH transmission windowsbeing different DSCH windows of the set of DSCH transmission windows,wherein the second set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed; and receiving, from abase station (BS) over a downlink channel supporting the shared spectrumchannel access, at least one SS/PBCH block that is located in the firstset of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blocks based on QCLinformation of the first set of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set ofSS/PBCH blocks within the DSCH transmission window of the determined setof DSCH transmission windows.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivativesrefer to any direct or indirect communication between two or moreelements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with oneanother. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well asderivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication.The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaningand/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof,means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, becontained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicablewith, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be boundto or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, orthe like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereofthat controls at least one operation. Such a controller may beimplemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/orfirmware. The functionality associated with any particular controllermay be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Thephrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means thatdifferent combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used,and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least oneof: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, Aand B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented orsupported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed fromcomputer readable program code and embodied in a computer readablemedium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or morecomputer programs, software components, sets of instructions,procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or aportion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computerreadable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code”includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code,and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes anytype of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type ofmemory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired,wireless, optical, or other communication links that transporttransitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computerreadable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored andmedia where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as arewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughoutthis patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art shouldunderstand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply toprior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to embodimentsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example gNB according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example UE according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example transmitter structure using OFDM accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example receiver structure using OFDM according toembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example encoding process for a DCI formataccording to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example decoding process for a DCI format for usewith a UE according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example flowchart for listen-before-talk basedchannel access procedure in LAA according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example DSCH transmission timing configurationaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example maximum DTTC window duration withscalable number of potential SSPBSH block according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example fixed number of potential SS/PBCH blocklocations with scalable DTTC window duration according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates an example configuration of bitmap with filled gapin time domain according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example allowed starting of transmission of DSCHbased on bitmap of indicating actually transmitted SS/PBCH blocksaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a method for timing configuration ofdiscovery signal and channel according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 through FIG. 14, discussed below, and the various embodimentsused to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference into thepresent disclosure as if fully set forth herein: 3GPP TS 38.211 v15.3.0,“NR; Physical channels and modulation;” 3GPP TS 38.212 v15.3.0, “NR;Multiplexing and Channel coding;” 3GPP TS 38.213 v15.3.0, “NR; PhysicalLayer Procedures for Control;” 3GPP TS 38.214 v15.3.0, “NR; PhysicalLayer Procedures for Data;” 3GPP TS 38.215 v15.3.0, “NR; Physical LayerMeasurements;” 3GPP TS 38.321 v15.2.0, “NR; Medium Access Control (MAC)protocol specification;” and 3GPP TS 38.331 v15.3.0, “NR; Radio ResourceControl (RRC) Protocol Specification.”

FIGS. 1-3 below describe various embodiments implemented in wirelesscommunications systems and with the use of orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA) communication techniques. The descriptions of FIGS. 1-3 are notmeant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner inwhich different embodiments may be implemented. Different embodiments ofthe present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably-arrangedcommunications system.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to embodimentsof the present disclosure. The embodiment of the wireless network shownin FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Other embodiments of the wirelessnetwork 100 could be used without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless network includes a gNB 101, a gNB 102,and a gNB 103. The gNB 101 communicates with the gNB 102 and the gNB103. The gNB 101 also communicates with at least one network 130, suchas the Internet, a proprietary Internet Protocol (IP) network, or otherdata network.

The gNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for afirst plurality of user equipments (UEs) within a coverage area 120 ofthe gNB 102. The first plurality of UEs includes a UE 111, which may belocated in a small business (SB); a UE 112, which may be located in anenterprise (E); a UE 113, which may be located in a WiFi hotspot (HS); aUE 114, which may be located in a first residence (R); a UE 115, whichmay be located in a second residence (R); and a UE 116, which may be amobile device (M), such as a cell phone, a wireless laptop, a wirelessPDA, or the like. The gNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to thenetwork 130 for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 ofthe gNB 103. The second plurality of UEs includes the UE 115 and the UE116. In some embodiments, one or more of the gNBs 101-103 maycommunicate with each other and with the UEs 111-116 using 5G, LTE,LTE-A, WiMAX, WiFi, or other wireless communication techniques.

Depending on the network type, the term “base station” or “BS” can referto any component (or collection of components) configured to providewireless access to a network, such as transmit point (TP),transmit-receive point (TRP), an enhanced base station (eNodeB or eNB),a 5G base station (gNB), a macrocell, a femtocell, a WiFi access point(AP), or other wirelessly enabled devices. Base stations may providewireless access in accordance with one or more wireless communicationprotocols, e.g., 5G 3GPP new radio interface/access (NR), long termevolution (LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A), high speed packet access (HSPA),Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, etc. For the sake of convenience, the terms “BS”and “TRP” are used interchangeably in this patent document to refer tonetwork infrastructure components that provide wireless access to remoteterminals. Also, depending on the network type, the term “userequipment” or “UE” can refer to any component such as “mobile station,”“subscriber station,” “remote terminal,” “wireless terminal,” “receivepoint,” or “user device.” For the sake of convenience, the terms “userequipment” and “UE” are used in this patent document to refer to remotewireless equipment that wirelessly accesses a BS, whether the UE is amobile device (such as a mobile telephone or smartphone) or is normallyconsidered a stationary device (such as a desktop computer or vendingmachine).

Dotted lines show the approximate extents of the coverage areas 120 and125, which are shown as approximately circular for the purposes ofillustration and explanation only. It should be clearly understood thatthe coverage areas associated with gNBs, such as the coverage areas 120and 125, may have other shapes, including irregular shapes, dependingupon the configuration of the gNBs and variations in the radioenvironment associated with natural and man-made obstructions.

As described in more detail below, one or more of the UEs 111-116include circuitry, programing, or a combination thereof, for receptionreliability for data and control information in an advanced wirelesscommunication system. In certain embodiments, and one or more of thegNBs 101-103 includes circuitry, programing, or a combination thereof,for efficient timing configuration of discovery signal and channel in anadvanced wireless communication system.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network, variouschanges may be made to FIG. 1. For example, the wireless network couldinclude any number of gNBs and any number of UEs in any suitablearrangement. Also, the gNB 101 could communicate directly with anynumber of UEs and provide those UEs with wireless broadband access tothe network 130. Similarly, each gNB 102-103 could communicate directlywith the network 130 and provide UEs with direct wireless broadbandaccess to the network 130. Further, the gNBs 101, 102, and/or 103 couldprovide access to other or additional external networks, such asexternal telephone networks or other types of data networks.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example gNB 102 according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The embodiment of the gNB 102 illustrated in FIG. 2is for illustration only, and the gNBs 101 and 103 of FIG. 1 could havethe same or similar configuration. However, gNBs come in a wide varietyof configurations, and FIG. 2 does not limit the scope of the presentdisclosure to any particular implementation of a gNB.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gNB 102 includes multiple antennas 205 a-205 n,multiple RF transceivers 210 a-210 n, transmit (TX) processing circuitry215, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 220. The gNB 102 alsoincludes a controller/processor 225, a memory 230, and a backhaul ornetwork interface 235.

The RF transceivers 210 a-210 n receive, from the antennas 205 a-205 n,incoming RF signals, such as signals transmitted by UEs in the network100. The RF transceivers 210 a-210 n down-convert the incoming RFsignals to generate IF or baseband signals. The IF or baseband signalsare sent to the RX processing circuitry 220, which generates processedbaseband signals by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the basebandor IF signals. The RX processing circuitry 220 transmits the processedbaseband signals to the controller/processor 225 for further processing.

The TX processing circuitry 215 receives analog or digital data (such asvoice data, web data, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from thecontroller/processor 225. The TX processing circuitry 215 encodes,multiplexes, and/or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generateprocessed baseband or IF signals. The RF transceivers 210 a-210 nreceive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signals from the TXprocessing circuitry 215 and up-converts the baseband or IF signals toRF signals that are transmitted via the antennas 205 a-205 n.

The controller/processor 225 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices that control the overall operation of the gNB 102.For example, the controller/processor 225 could control the reception offorward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signalsby the RF transceivers 210 a-210 n, the RX processing circuitry 220, andthe TX processing circuitry 215 in accordance with well-knownprinciples. The controller/processor 225 could support additionalfunctions as well, such as more advanced wireless communicationfunctions. For instance, the controller/processor 225 could support beamforming or directional routing operations in which outgoing signals frommultiple antennas 205 a-205 n are weighted differently to effectivelysteer the outgoing signals in a desired direction. Any of a wide varietyof other functions could be supported in the gNB 102 by thecontroller/processor 225.

The controller/processor 225 is also capable of executing programs andother processes resident in the memory 230, such as an OS. Thecontroller/processor 225 can move data into or out of the memory 230 asrequired by an executing process.

The controller/processor 225 is also coupled to the backhaul or networkinterface 235. The backhaul or network interface 235 allows the gNB 102to communicate with other devices or systems over a backhaul connectionor over a network. The interface 235 could support communications overany suitable wired or wireless connection(s). For example, when the gNB102 is implemented as part of a cellular communication system (such asone supporting 5G, LTE, or LTE-A), the interface 235 could allow the gNB102 to communicate with other gNBs over a wired or wireless backhaulconnection. When the gNB 102 is implemented as an access point, theinterface 235 could allow the gNB 102 to communicate over a wired orwireless local area network or over a wired or wireless connection to alarger network (such as the Internet). The interface 235 includes anysuitable structure supporting communications over a wired or wirelessconnection, such as an Ethernet or RF transceiver.

The memory 230 is coupled to the controller/processor 225. Part of thememory 230 could include a RAM, and another part of the memory 230 couldinclude a Flash memory or other ROM.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates one example of the gNB 102, various changesmay be made to FIG. 2. For example, the gNB 102 could include any numberof each component shown in FIG. 2. As a particular example, an accesspoint could include a number of interfaces 235, and thecontroller/processor 225 could support routing functions to route databetween different network addresses. As another particular example,while shown as including a single instance of TX processing circuitry215 and a single instance of RX processing circuitry 220, the gNB 102could include multiple instances of each (such as one per RFtransceiver). Also, various components in FIG. 2 could be combined,further subdivided, or omitted and additional components could be addedaccording to particular needs.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example UE 116 according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The embodiment of the UE 116 illustrated in FIG. 3is for illustration only, and the UEs 111-115 of FIG. 1 could have thesame or similar configuration. However, UEs come in a wide variety ofconfigurations, and FIG. 3 does not limit the scope of the presentdisclosure to any particular implementation of a UE.

As shown in FIG. 3, the UE 116 includes an antenna 305, a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver 310, TX processing circuitry 315, amicrophone 320, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 325. The UE 116also includes a speaker 330, a processor 340, an input/output (I/O)interface (IF) 345, a touchscreen 350, a display 355, and a memory 360.The memory 360 includes an operating system (OS) 361 and one or moreapplications 362.

The RF transceiver 310 receives, from the antenna 305, an incoming RFsignal transmitted by a gNB of the network 100. The RF transceiver 310down-converts the incoming RF signal to generate an intermediatefrequency (IF) or baseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is sent tothe RX processing circuitry 325, which generates a processed basebandsignal by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IFsignal. The RX processing circuitry 325 transmits the processed basebandsignal to the speaker 330 (such as for voice data) or to the processor340 for further processing (such as for web browsing data).

The TX processing circuitry 315 receives analog or digital voice datafrom the microphone 320 or other outgoing baseband data (such as webdata, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from the processor 340.The TX processing circuitry 315 encodes, multiplexes, and/or digitizesthe outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband or IFsignal. The RF transceiver 310 receives the outgoing processed basebandor IF signal from the TX processing circuitry 315 and up-converts thebaseband or IF signal to an RF signal that is transmitted via theantenna 305.

The processor 340 can include one or more processors or other processingdevices and execute the OS 361 stored in the memory 360 in order tocontrol the overall operation of the UE 116. For example, the processor340 could control the reception of forward channel signals and thetransmission of reverse channel signals by the RF transceiver 310, theRX processing circuitry 325, and the TX processing circuitry 315 inaccordance with well-known principles. In some embodiments, theprocessor 340 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The processor 340 is also capable of executing other processes andprograms resident in the memory 360, such as processes for beammanagement. The processor 340 can move data into or out of the memory360 as required by an executing process. In some embodiments, theprocessor 340 is configured to execute the applications 362 based on theOS 361 or in response to signals received from gNBs or an operator. Theprocessor 340 is also coupled to the I/O interface 345, which providesthe UE 116 with the ability to connect to other devices, such as laptopcomputers and handheld computers. The I/O interface 345 is thecommunication path between these accessories and the processor 340.

The processor 340 is also coupled to the touchscreen 350 and the display355. The operator of the UE 116 can use the touchscreen 350 to enterdata into the UE 116. The display 355 may be a liquid crystal display,light emitting diode display, or other display capable of rendering textand/or at least limited graphics, such as from web sites.

The memory 360 is coupled to the processor 340. Part of the memory 360could include a random-access memory (RAM), and another part of thememory 360 could include a Flash memory or other read-only memory (ROM).

Although FIG. 3 illustrates one example of the UE 116, various changesmay be made to FIG. 3. For example, various components in FIG. 3 couldbe combined, further subdivided, or omitted and additional componentscould be added according to particular needs. As a particular example,the processor 340 could be divided into multiple processors, such as oneor more central processing units (CPUs) and one or more graphicsprocessing units (GPUs). Also, while FIG. 3 illustrates the UE 116configured as a mobile telephone or smartphone, UEs could be configuredto operate as other types of mobile or stationary devices.

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communicationsystems and, more specifically, to reducing power consumption for a userequipment (UE) communicating with a base station and to transmissions toand receptions from a UE of physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs)for operation with dual connectivity. A communication system includes adownlink (DL) that refers to transmissions from a base station or one ormore transmission points to UEs and an uplink (UL) that refers totransmissions from UEs to a base station or to one or more receptionpoints.

To meet the demand for wireless data traffic having increased sincedeployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made todevelop an improved 5G or pre-5G communication system. Therefore, the 5Gor pre-5G communication system is also called a “beyond 4G network” or a“post LTE system.” The 5G communication system is considered to beimplemented in higher frequency (mmWave) bands, e.g., 60 GHz bands, soas to accomplish higher data rates. To decrease propagation loss of theradio waves and increase the transmission distance, the beamforming,massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO(FD-MIMO), array antenna, an analog beam forming, large scale antennatechniques are discussed in 5G communication systems. In addition, in 5Gcommunication systems, development for system network improvement isunder way based on advanced small cells, cloud radio access networks(RANs), ultra-dense networks, device-to-device (D2D) communication,wireless backhaul, moving network, cooperative communication,coordinated multi-points (CoMP), reception-end interference cancellationand the like.

A time unit for DL signaling or for UL signaling on a cell is referredto as a slot and can include one or more symbols. A symbol can alsoserve as an additional time unit. A frequency (or bandwidth (BW)) unitis referred to as a resource block (RB). One RB includes a number ofsub-carriers (SCs). For example, a slot can include 14 symbols, haveduration of 1 millisecond or 0.5 milliseconds, and an RB can have a BWof 180 kHz or 360 kHz and include 12 SCs with inter-SC spacing of 15 kHzor 30 kHz, respectively.

DL signals include data signals conveying information content, controlsignals conveying DL control information (DCI) formats, and referencesignals (RS) that are also known as pilot signals. A gNB can transmitdata information (e.g., transport blocks) or DCI formats throughrespective physical DL shared channels (PDSCHs) or physical DL controlchannels (PDCCHs). A gNB can transmit one or more of multiple types ofRS including channel state information RS (CSI-RS) and demodulation RS(DMRS). A CSI-RS is intended for UEs to measure channel stateinformation (CSI) or to perform other measurements such as ones relatedto mobility support. A DMRS can be transmitted only in the BW of arespective PDCCH or PDSCH and a UE can use the DMRS to demodulate dataor control information.

UL signals also include data signals conveying information content,control signals conveying UL control information (UCI), and RS. A UEtransmits data information (e.g., transport blocks) or UCI through arespective physical UL shared channel (PUSCH) or a physical UL controlchannel (PUCCH). When a UE simultaneously transmits data information andUCI, the UE can multiplex both in a PUSCH or transmit them separately inrespective PUSCH and PUCCH. UCI includes hybrid automatic repeat requestacknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information, indicating correct or incorrectdetection of data transport blocks (TBs) by a UE, scheduling request(SR) indicating whether a UE has data in the UE's buffer, and CSIreports enabling a gNB to select appropriate parameters to perform linkadaptation for PDSCH or PDCCH transmissions to a UE.

A CSI report from a UE can include a channel quality indicator (CQI)informing a gNB of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the UE todetect a data TB with a predetermined block error rate (BLER), such as a10% BLER, of a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) informing a gNB how toprecode signaling to a UE, and of a rank indicator (RI) indicating atransmission rank for a PDSCH. UL RS includes DMRS and sounding RS(SRS). DMRS is transmitted only in a BW of a respective PUSCH or PUCCHtransmission. A gNB can use a DMRS to demodulate information in arespective PUSCH or PUCCH. SRS is transmitted by a UE to provide a gNBwith UL CSI and, for a TDD or a flexible duplex system, to also providea PMI for DL transmissions. An UL DMRS or SRS transmission can be based,for example, on a transmission of a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence or, ingeneral, of a CAZAC sequence.

DL transmissions and UL transmissions can be based on an orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform including a variantusing DFT precoding that is known as DFT-spread-OFDM.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example transmitter structure 400 using OFDMaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. An embodiment of thetransmitter structure 400 shown in FIG. 4 is for illustration only. Oneor more of the components illustrated in FIG. 4 can be implemented inspecialized circuitry configured to perform the noted functions or oneor more of the components can be implemented by one or more processorsexecuting instructions to perform the noted functions. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Information bits, such as DCI bits or data bits 410, are encoded byencoder 420, rate matched to assigned time/frequency resources by ratematcher 430 and modulated by modulator 440. Subsequently, modulatedencoded symbols and DMRS or CSI-RS 450 are mapped to SCs 460 by SCmapping unit 465, an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) is performedby filter 470, a cyclic prefix (CP) is added by CP insertion unit 480,and a resulting signal is filtered by filter 490 and transmitted by anradio frequency (RF) unit 495.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example receiver structure 500 using OFDMaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. An embodiment of thereceiver structure 500 shown in FIG. 5 is for illustration only. One ormore of the components illustrated in FIG. 8 can be implemented inspecialized circuitry configured to perform the noted functions or oneor more of the components can be implemented by one or more processorsexecuting instructions to perform the noted functions. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

A received signal 510 is filtered by filter 520, a CP removal unitremoves a CP 530, a filter 540 applies a fast Fourier transform (FFT),SCs de-mapping unit 550 de-maps SCs selected by BW selector unit 555,received symbols are demodulated by a channel estimator and ademodulator unit 560, a rate de-matcher 570 restores a rate matching,and a decoder 580 decodes the resulting bits to provide information bits590.

A UE typically monitors multiple candidate locations for respectivepotential PDCCH transmissions to decode multiple candidate DCI formatsin a slot. Monitoring a PDCCH candidates means receiving and decodingthe PDCCH candidate according to DCI formats the UE is configured toreceive. A DCI format includes cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits inorder for the UE to confirm a correct detection of the DCI format. A DCIformat type is identified by a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI)that scrambles the CRC bits. For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH or aPUSCH to a single UE, the RNTI can be a cell RNTI (C-RNTI) and serves asa UE identifier.

For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH conveying system information (SI),the RNTI can be an SI-RNTI. For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCHproviding a random-access response (RAR), the RNTI can be an RA-RNTI.For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH or a PUSCH to a single UE prior to aUE establishing a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a servinggNB, the RNTI can be a temporary C-RNTI (TC-RNTI). For a DCI formatproviding TPC commands to a group of UEs, the RNTI can be aTPC-PUSCH-RNTI or a TPC-PUCCH-RNTI. Each RNTI type can be configured toa UE through higher-layer signaling such as RRC signaling. A DCI formatscheduling PDSCH transmission to a UE is also referred to as DL DCIformat or DL assignment while a DCI format scheduling PUSCH transmissionfrom a UE is also referred to as UL DCI format or UL grant.

A PDCCH transmission can be within a set of physical RBs (PRBs). A gNBcan configure a UE one or more sets of PRBs, also referred to as controlresource sets, for PDCCH receptions. A PDCCH transmission can be incontrol channel elements (CCEs) that are included in a control resourceset. A UE determines CCEs for a PDCCH reception based on a search spacesuch as a UE-specific search space (USS) for PDCCH candidates with DCIformat having CRC scrambled by a RNTI, such as a C-RNTI, that isconfigured to the UE by UE-specific RRC signaling for scheduling PDSCHreception or PUSCH transmission, and a common search space (CSS) forPDCCH candidates with DCI formats having CRC scrambled by other RNTIs. Aset of CCEs that can be used for PDCCH transmission to a UE define aPDCCH candidate location. A property of a control resource set istransmission configuration indication (TCI) state that provides quasico-location information of the DMRS antenna port for PDCCH reception.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example encoding process 600 for a DCI formataccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. An embodiment of theencoding process 600 shown in FIG. 6 is for illustration only. One ormore of the components illustrated in FIG. 6 can be implemented inspecialized circuitry configured to perform the noted functions or oneor more of the components can be implemented by one or more processorsexecuting instructions to perform the noted functions. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

A gNB separately encodes and transmits each DCI format in a respectivePDCCH. A RNTI masks a CRC of the DCI format codeword in order to enablethe UE to identify the DCI format. For example, the CRC and the RNTI caninclude, for example, 16 bits or 24 bits. The CRC of (non-coded) DCIformat bits 610 is determined using a CRC computation unit 620, and theCRC is masked using an exclusive OR (XOR) operation unit 630 between CRCbits and RNTI bits 640. The XOR operation is defined as XOR(0,0)=0,XOR(0,1)=1, XOR(1,0)=1, XOR(1,1)=0. The masked CRC bits are appended toDCI format information bits using a CRC append unit 650. An encoder 660performs channel coding (such as tail-biting convolutional coding orpolar coding), followed by rate matching to allocated resources by ratematcher 670. Interleaving and modulation units 680 apply interleavingand modulation, such as QPSK, and the output control signal 690 istransmitted.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example decoding process 700 for a DCI format foruse with a UE according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Anembodiment of the decoding process 700 shown in FIG. 7 is forillustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 7can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

A received control signal 710 is demodulated and de-interleaved by ademodulator and a de-interleaver 720. A rate matching applied at a gNBtransmitter is restored by rate matcher 730, and resulting bits aredecoded by decoder 740. After decoding, a CRC extractor 750 extracts CRCbits and provides DCI format information bits 760. The DCI formatinformation bits are de-masked 770 by an XOR operation with an RNTI 780(when applicable) and a CRC check is performed by unit 790. When the CRCcheck succeeds (check-sum is zero), the DCI format information bits areconsidered to be valid. When the CRC check does not succeed, the DCIformat information bits are considered to be invalid.

For an LTE initial access, primary and secondary synchronization signals(PSS and SSS, respectively) are used for coarse timing and frequencysynchronization and cell identification (ID) acquisition. Since PSS/SSSis transmitted twice per 10 ms radio frame and time-domain enumerationis introduced in terms of system frame number (SFN), frame timing isdetected from PSS/SSS to avoid the need for increasing the detectionburden from physical broadcast channel (PBCH). In addition, cyclicprefix (CP) length and, if unknown, duplexing scheme can be detectedfrom PSS/SSS. The PSS is constructed from a frequency-domain ZC sequenceof length 63, with the middle element truncated to avoid using the d.c.subcarrier. Three roots are selected for PSS to represent the threephysical layer identities within each group of cells.

The SSS sequences are based on the maximum length sequences (also knownas M-sequences). Each SSS sequence is constructed by interleaving twolength-31 BPSK modulated sequences in frequency domain, where the twosource sequences before modulation are different cyclic shifts of thesame M-sequence. The cyclic shift indices are constructed from thephysical cell ID group.

Since PSS/SSS detection can be faulty (due to, for instance,non-idealities in the auto- and cross-correlation properties of PSS/SSSand lack of CRC protection), cell ID hypotheses detected from PSS/SSSmay occasionally be confirmed via PBCH detection. PBCH is primarily usedto signal the master block information (MIB) which consists of DL and ULsystem bandwidth information (3 bits), PHICH information (3 bits), andSFN (8 bits). Adding 10 reserved bits (for other uses such as MTC), theMIB payload amounts to 24 bits. After appended with a 16-bit CRC, arate-1/3 tail-biting convolutional coding, 4× repetition, and QPSKmodulation are applied to the 40-bit codeword. The resulting QPSK symbolstream is transmitted across 4 subframes spread over 4 radio frames.Other than detecting MIB, blind detection of the number of CRS ports isalso needed for PBCH.

For NR licensed spectrum, each synchronization and PBCH signal block(SS/PBCH block) compromises of one symbol for PSS, two symbols for PBCH,one symbol for SSS and PBCH, where the four symbols are mappedconsecutively, and time division multiplexed. SS is a unified design,including the PSS and SSS sequence design, for all supported carrierfrequency rages in NR. The transmission bandwidth of PSS and SSS (e.g.,12 RBs) is smaller than the transmission bandwidth of the whole SS/PBCHblock (e.g., 20 RBs). For initial cell selection for NR cell, a UEassumes the default SS burst set periodicity as 20 ms, and for detectinga non-standalone NR cell, a network provides one SS burst setperiodicity information per frequency carrier to a UE and information toderive measurement timing/duration if possible.

Other than the MIB, the remaining minimum system information (RMSI) iscarried by physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) with scheduling infocarried by the corresponding physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).Similar structure applies to other system information (OSI) and pagingmessage. The control resource set (CORESET) for receiving common controlchannels, such as RMSI, is configured in content of PBCH.

The federal communications commission (FCC) defined unlicensed carriersto provide cost-free public access spectrum. Use of unlicensed carriersby a UE is allowed only under the provisions that the UE does notgenerate noticeable interference to communications in licensed carriersand that communications in unlicensed carriers are not protected frominterference. For example, unlicensed carriers include the industrial,scientific and medical carriers and the Unlicensed National InformationInfrastructure carriers that can be used by IEEE 802.11 devices. It maybe possible to deploy LTE radio access technology (RAT) on an unlicensedfrequency spectrum, which is also known as LTE-unlicensed or LTE-U orlicensed assisted access (LAA).

FIG. 8 illustrates an example flowchart for listen-before-talk 800 basedchannel access procedure in LAA according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. An embodiment of the listen-before-talk 800 shown in FIG. 8is for illustration only. One or more of the components illustrated inFIG. 8 can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to performthe noted functions or one or more of the components can be implementedby one or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

In LTE system, an eNB may transmit a transmission including a physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH), or a physical downlink control channel(PDCCH), or an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) acarrier on which LAA Scell(s) transmission(s) are performed, aftersensing the channel to be idle during the slot durations of a deferduration (812); and after the backoff counter (BO) is zero (814) in step4). An example of this channel access procedure it illustrated in FIG. 8(e.g., it is also referred to as Cat4 LBT for this type of channelaccess procedure).

The backoff counter is adjusted by sensing the channel for additionalslot duration(s) according to the steps below: (1) set the counter as arandom number (821) uniformly distributed between 0 and contentionwindow (CW) value, and go to step (4); (2) if the counter is greaterthan 0, and the eNB chooses to decrement the counter, decrease thecounter by 1 (822); (3) sense the channel for an additional slotduration, and if the additional slot duration is idle, go to step (4);else, go to step (5); (4) if the counter is 0, stop; else, go to step(2); (5) sense the channel until either a busy slot is detected withinan additional defer duration or all the slots of the additional deferduration are detected to be idle; and (6) if the channel is sensed to beidle during all the slot durations of the additional defer duration, goto step (4); else, go to step (5).

Moreover, the eNB maintains the contention window value and adjusts itbefore setting a backoff counter, for each of the supported channelaccess priority class. The adjustment of the contention window value isbased on the HARQ-ACK/NACK values corresponding to PDSCH transmission(s)in a reference subframe, wherein the reference subframe is the startingof the most recent transmission on the carrier made by the eNB, forwhich at least some HARQ-ACK/NACK feedback is expected to be available.

Also, in LTE system, an eNB may transmit a transmission includingdiscovery signal but not including PDSCH on a carrier on which LAAScell(s) transmission(s) are performed immediately after sensing thechannel to be idle for at least a sensing interval of 25 us and if theduration of the transmission is less than 1 ms. It's also referred to asCat2 LBT for this type of channel access procedure.

The present disclosure focuses on the design of timing informationdelivered by the discovery signal and channel (DSCH) on NR unlicensedspectrum (note that in the present disclosure, unlicensed spectrum alsoincludes shared spectrum). In the present disclosure, the DSCH containsat least a set of SS/PBCH block(s), and further contains at least one ofa configurable CORESET(s) and PDSCH(s) of RMSI, OSI, or paging, or achannel state indicator reference signal (CSI-RS) if configured, whichcan be considered as enhancement to discovery signals in LTE for initialcell acquisition purpose as well. The terminology of DSCH can also bereferred to other equivalent terminologies, such as discovery referencesignal and channel, discovery block, discovery burst, discovery burstset, discovery reference signal (DRS), and etc.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example DSCH transmission timing configuration 900according to embodiments of the present disclosure. An embodiment of theDSCH transmission timing configuration 900 shown in FIG. 9 is forillustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 9can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, the timing configuration for DSCH transmission windowis denoted as DTTC in the present disclosure, wherein a DTTC containsconfiguration of at least one of a window periodicity (e.g., P_DTTC), awindow duration (e.g., D_DTTC), or a window offset within theperiodicity (e.g., O_DTTC). In one example, a gNB may transmit the DSCHwithin the DTTC window, subject to LBT, and a UE expects to receive DSCH(e.g., with a duration of D_DSCH) within the DTTC window, based on theDTTC. An illustration of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 9.

In one example, the DTTC window periodicity is configurable and thecandidate configurable values are the same as the periodicity forSS/PBCH blocks included in the DTTC window, e.g., one value from the set{5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160} ms. For one example, the DTTC windowperiodicity can be the same as the periodicity of SS/PBCH block, and noextra explicit configuration is needed (e.g., a UE assumes the DTTCwindow periodicity is configured by the high layer parameterssb-PeriodicityServingCell in RMSI). For this example, a UE assumes allSS/PBCH blocks are transmitted in a DTTC window, and no SS/PBCH block istransmitted outside DTTC window.

In another example, the DTTC window periodicity is configurable and thecandidate configurable value is at least 20 ms, e.g., taking a valuefrom the set {20, 40, 80, 160} ms. For one example, the DTTC windowperiodicity can be the same as the periodicity of SS/PBCH block, and noextra explicit configuration is needed (e.g., a UE assumes the DTTCwindow periodicity is configured by the high layer parameterssb-PeriodicityServingCell in RMSI). For this example, a UE assumes allSS/PBCH blocks are transmitted in a DTTC window, and no SS/PBCH block istransmitted outside DTTC window.

In yet another example, the configuration of the DTTC window periodicityis same as the configured periodicity of SS/PBCH blocks (e.g., using thesame high layer parameter ssb-PeriodicityServingCell in RMSI and no newconfiguration field is required), and a UE assumes all SS/PBCH blocksare transmitted in a DTTC window and no SS/PBCH block is transmittedoutside DTTC window.

In yet another example, the configuration of the DTTC window periodicityis separately configured from the configured periodicity of SS/PBCHblocks (e.g., a new configuration field is required). There may beSS/PBCH blocks transmitted outside the DTTC, based on the configurationsof DTTC and periodicity of SS/PBCH blocks. In one example, theconfiguration of the DTTC window periodicity is indicated in the systeminformation, e.g., RMSI.

In yet another example, one of the DTTC is predefined and assumed by theUE for initial access purpose, e.g., 20 ms window periodicity with apredefined window offset as 0 ms and a predefined window duration as 5ms.

In yet another example, if the DTTC window periodicity in a DTTC isconfigured as P_DTTC ms, and the transmission duration of DSCH within awindow is determined as at most D_DSCH ms, one-shot LBT (e.g., Cat2 LBT)can be utilized for the transmission of DSCH when a combination ofP_DTTC and D_DSCH satisfies a predefined condition. For example, theratio of D_DSCH and P_DSCH is smaller than or equal to a predefinedthreshold (e.g., 5%).

TABLE 1 or a subset of TABLE 1 can be an example combination of DTTCperiodicity and DSCH duration to utilize Cat2 LBT, for the predefinedthreshold as 5%.

TABLE 1 Example of combination of DTTC periodicity and DSCH duration toutilize Cat2 LBT. No. P_DTTC D_DSCH Example of DSCH duration 1 5 0.25 1slot with 60 kHz SCS 2 10 0.25 1 slot with 60 kHz SCS 3 10 0.5 2 slotswith 60 kHz SCS or 1 slot with 30 kHz SCS 4 20 0.25 1 slot with 60 kHzSCS 5 20 0.5 2 slots with 60 kHz SCS or 1 slot with 30 kHz SCS 6 20 1 4slots with 60 kHz SCS or 2 slots with 30 kHz SCS or 1 slot with 15 kHz 740 0.25 1 slot with 60 kHz SCS 8 40 0.5 2 slots with 60 kHz SCS or 1slot with 30 kHz SCS 9 40 1 4 slots with 60 kHz SCS or 2 slots with 30kHz SCS or 1 slot with 15 kHz 10 80 0.25 1 slot with 60 kHz SCS 11 800.5 2 slots with 60 kHz SCS or 1 slot with 30 kHz SCS 12 80 1 4 slotswith 60 kHz SCS or 2 slots with 30 kHz SCS or 1 slot with 15 kHz 13 1600.25 1 slot with 60 kHz SCS 14 160 0.5 2 slots with 60 kHz SCS or 1 slotwith 30 kHz SCS 15 160 1 4 slots with 60 kHz SCS or 2 slots with 30 kHzSCS or 1 slot with 15 kHz

In yet another example, the window duration in a DTTC can be notexceeding the measurement gap for that particular frequency layer, e.g.,6 ms.

In yet another example, the maximum window duration in a DTTC is fixedin time for all SCS supported and for both standalone and non-standaloneoperations, e.g., the fixed maximum window duration can be a half frame.In this approach, the number of potential SS/PBCH block locations withina DTTC window is scalable based on the SCS of SS/PBCH blocks in the DTTCwindow. For instance, if the maximum window duration is fixed as D_DTTC,which corresponds to X1 potential SS/PBCH block locations with the SCSof SS/PBCH block as SCS_SSB1, the number of potential SS/PBCH blocklocations within the DTTC widow can be X2=X1/(SCS_SSB2/SCS_SSB1) for theSCS of SS/PBCH block as SCS_SSB2. An illustration of this approach isgiven by FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example maximum DTTC window duration 1000 withscalable number of potential SS/PBSH block according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure. An embodiment of the maximum DTTC windowduration 1000 shown in FIG. 10 is for illustration only. One or more ofthe components illustrated in FIG. 10 can be implemented in specializedcircuitry configured to perform the noted functions or one or more ofthe components can be implemented by one or more processors executinginstructions to perform the noted functions. Other embodiments are usedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In yet another example, the maximum window duration is scalable based onthe SCS of SS/PBCH blocks in the DTTC window. For example, the maximumwindow duration is fixed for a first SCS (e.g., due to single defaultSCS of SS/PBCH blocks for standalone operation), and scalable based onthe configured second SCS of SS/PBCH blocks, such that the number ofpotential SS/PBCH block locations within a DTTC window is the same. Forinstance, if the maximum window duration is fixed as D_1 for a firstSCS, the maximum window duration can be D_1/(SCS_2/SCS_1) for a secondSCS, wherein SCS_1 is the predefined SCS of SS/PBCH block in the unit ofkHz (e.g., for standalone operation), and SCS_1 is the configured secondSCS of SS/PBCH block in the unit of kHz (e.g., for non-standaloneoperation). An illustration of this approach is shown in FIG. 11 (e.g.,one of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, and 60 kHz can be SCS_1).

FIG. 11 illustrates an example fixed number of potential SS/PBCH blocklocations 1100 with scalable DTTC window duration according toembodiments of the present disclosure. An embodiment of the fixed numberof potential SS/PBCH block locations 1100 shown in FIG. 11 is forillustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 11can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

In yet another example, the DTTC window offset within a configuredperiodicity is fixed as 0. For example, if the DTTC window periodicityis always an integer multiple of half frame (e.g., 5 ms), the DTTCwindow can be assumed to start from half frame boundary.

In yet another example, the DTTC window offset within a configuredperiodicity is indicated by the half frame indicator in PBCH content,such that the offset is always in multiple of 5 ms.

In yet another example, the DTTC window offset within a configuredperiodicity can be configurable, e.g., from 0 ms to 5-D_DTTC ms in thegranularity of 1 ms or 1 slot, wherein D_DTTC is the DTTC windowduration.

In yet another example, the DTTC window duration can be fixed as themaximum DTTC window duration. In this approach, there is only one DTTCwindow duration assumed by the UE.

In yet another example, the DTTC window duration can be configurable.For one aspect, when the DTTC window duration can be configurable, theconfiguration can be indicated in the system information (e.g., RMSI orequivalently SIB1). For one example of the configuration, it can be acell-specific configuration of the serving cell and indicated in higherlayer parameter ServingCellConfigCommonSIB. For one example, thecandidate configurable values for the DTTC window duration can besmaller than or equal to the maximum DTTC window duration, with a stepsize of 1 ms (e.g., the candidate configurable values can be {1, 2, 3,4, 5} ms if the maximum DTTC window duration is 5 ms). For anotherexample, the candidate configurable values can be a set or a subset of{0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} ms if the maximum DTTC window duration is 5ms.

In one embodiment 2, a UE may be able to acquire timing information,including symbol boundary and index, slot boundary and index, as well asframe boundary and index, from the received DSCH, at least for initialaccess purpose in standalone operation. The index of possible DSCHlocation in a DTTC window can be indicated to the UE using a signaland/or channel in the DSCH, wherein the possible DSCH location can beassociated to a possible SS/PBCH block location index within a DTTCwindow (e.g., equivalently as the index of possible SS/PBCH blocklocation within a DTTC window).

In one example, one DTTC window may have X possible predefined locationsfor SS/PBCH block transmission, and every possible SS/PBCH blocklocation requires indication, then, total number of timing hypotheses toindicate is N_t=X. X can be determined on the duration of DTTC windowand the SCS of SS/PBCH block, e.g., X=D_DTTC*2*(SCS_SSB/15), whereinSCS_SSB is the SCS of SS/PBCH block in the unit of kHz. Examples ofdetermining X are shown in TABLE 2.

In another example, one DTTC window may have X possible predefinedlocations for SS/PBCH block transmission, and there is QCL assumptionamong SS/PBCH blocks within the DTTC window. In this example, everygroup of QCLed SS/PBCH block locations requires indication, and totalnumber of timing hypotheses to indicate is N_t=X/G, where G is size ofgroup of QCLed SS/PBCH blocks, e.g., every pair of SS/PBCH blocks withina slot are QCLed and G=2. For instance, for SS/PBCH blocks within eachgroup, their SS/PBCH block index can be the same. X can be determined onthe duration of DTTC window and the SCS of SS/PBCH block, e.g.,X=D_DTTC*2*(SCS_SSB/15), wherein SCS_SSB is the SCS of SS/PBCH block inthe unit of kHz. Examples of determining X is shown in TABLE 2.

TABLE 2 Examples of determining the number of possible locations forSS/PBCH block transmission in DTTC window. SCS of SS/PBCH D_DTTC block X4 ms 15 kHz 8 4 ms 30 kHz 16 4 ms 60 kHz 32 5 ms 15 kHz 10 5 ms 30 kHz20 5 ms 60 kHz 40 10 ms 15 kHz 20 10 ms 30 kHz 40 10 ms 60 kHz 80 2.5 ms60 kHz 20 2 ms 60 kHz 16 8 ms 15 kHz 16 6 ms 15 kHz 12 6 ms 30 kHz 24 6ms 60 kHz 48 3 ms 30 kHz 12 3 ms 15 kHz 6 1.5 ms 60 kHz 12 2 ms 15 kHz 42 ms 30 kHz 8 1 ms 15 kHz 2 1 ms 30 kHz 4 0.5 ms 15 kHz 1 0.5 ms 30 kHz2 0.25 ms 30 Hz  1

At least one of the following examples and/or their combinations can besupported for determining the timing and/or QCL assumption.

In one example, one of the N_t timing hypotheses representing the indexof possible location of SS/PBCH block within a DTTC window (e.g.,0≤i_t≤N_t−1) is directly indicated to the UE by the DMRS sequence ofPBCH in the corresponding SS/PBCH block, which means for a given cell,the number of DMRS sequences equals to N_t, and each of the sequencecorresponds to a potential SS/PBCH block location in the DTTC window.When a UE detects the DMRS sequence of PBCH in a received SS/PBCH block,the UE can determine the timing (e.g., the timing location within theDTTC window) based on the index of the DMRS sequence.

In such example, if N_t can be different for standalone andnon-standalone operations, and/or N_t can be different for differentconfigured SCS of SS/PBCH block for non-standalone operation, the numberof DMRS sequences can be different for the above scenarios. For a givencell, the corresponding DMRS sequences of PBCH for a smaller N_t is asubset of the DMRS sequences of PBCH for a larger N_t. If a cell canhave N_t1 number of DMRS sequences for a first SCS of SS/PBCH block asSCS_SSB1, and can have N_t2 number of DMRS sequences for a second SCS ofSS/PBCH block as SCS_SSB2, wherein N_t1>N_t2, then the set of N_t2 DMRSsequences for SCS_SSB2 is a subset of the set of N_t1 DMRS sequences forSCS_SSB1. In one example, the DMRS sequence corresponding to it in theset of N_t2 DMRS sequences for SCS_SSB2, wherein 0≤i_t≤N_t2-1, is thesame as the DMRS sequence corresponding to it in the set of N_t1 DMRSsequences for SCS_SSB1, for a same given cell ID.

In another example, one of the N_t timing hypotheses representing theindex of possible location of SS/PBCH block (e.g., 0≤i_t≤N_t−1) isindicated to the UE by the combination of DMRS sequence of PBCH in thecorresponding SS/PBCH block of the associated DSCH and othersignal/channel of the associated DSCH (e.g., PBCH content).

In such example, the 3 LSBs of the index of possible location of SS/PBCHblock (e.g., 0≤i_t≤Nt−1) is carried by the DMRS of PBCH, and theremaining part is carried by the content of PBCH (e.g., PBCH payload butnot in MIB). For instance, the field ā_(Ā+7) in PBCH payload but not inMIB is used to indicate the 4th LSB of the index of possible location ofSS/PBCH block within the DTTC window if applicable (e.g., when N_t>8),and the field ā_(Ā+6) in PBCH payload but not in the MIB is used toindicate the 5th LSB of the index of possible location of SS/PBCH blockwithin the DTTC window if applicable (e.g., when N_t>16).

For a given cell, the number of DMRS sequences of PBCH equals 8 in thisexample. When a UE detects the DMRS sequence of PBCH in a receivedSS/PBCH block and decodes the timing information carried by the contentof PBCH, the UE can determine the timing (e.g., the index of SS/PBCHblock location within the DTTC window) using 8*i_PBCH+i_SSB, whereini_PBCH is the decoded timing information carried by the content of PBCH(e.g., ā_(Ā+6) and ā_(Ā+7) if applicable), and i_SSB is the detectedindex of DMRS sequence in the corresponding SS/PBCH block.

In yet another example, a part of the index of possible location ofSS/PBCH block (e.g., 0≤i_t≤Nt−1) is carried by DMRS of PBCH, wherein thepart is configurable as i_t mod K and K is indicated in PBCH content(e.g., MIB) with K≤L_max (L_max is the maximum number of transmittedSS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC window for a given band) and the remainingpart (e.g., floor(i_t/K)) is carried by another field in PBCH content(e.g., PBCH content but not in MIB). When a UE detects the DMRS sequenceof PBCH in a received SS/PBCH block, and decodes the timing informationas well as K carried by the content of PBCH, the UE can determine thetiming (e.g., the timing location within the DTTC window) usingK*i_PBCH+i_SSB, wherein i_PBCH is the decoded timing information carriedby the content of PBCH, and i_SSB is the detected index of DMRS sequencein the corresponding SS/PBCH block.

In such example, if N_t can be different for standalone andnon-standalone operations, and/or N_t can be different for differentconfigured SCS of SS/PBCH block for non-standalone operation, the numberof DMRS sequences are the same for the above scenarios, and theindication of remaining timing information in other signal/channel canbe different for the above scenarios (e.g., different bit-width in thecontent of PBCH). For example, if N_t is different for 15 kHz SCS and 30kHz SCS of SS/PBCH block (e.g., N_t for 30 kHz SCS is twice of the N_tfor 15 kHz), then the number of bits indicating the remaining timinginformation in other signal/channel (e.g., in PBCH payload but not MIB)is different (e.g., the number of bits for 30 kHz SCS is twice of thenumber of bits for 15 kHz SCS, and 1 bit can be reserved for 15 kHzSCS).

For example, if N_t=20 for 30 kHz SCS, 2 bits in PBCH payload but not inMIB, e.g., ā_(Ā+6) and ā_(Ā+7) , are used for indicating the 5th and 4thLSB of the index of possible location of SS/PBCH block, correspondingly;and if N_t=10 for 15 kHz SCS, 1 bit in PBCH payload but not in MIB,e.g., ā_(Ā+7) , are used for indicating the 4th LSB of the index ofpossible location of SS/PBCH block.

In yet another example, one of the N_t timing hypotheses is expressed intwo parts: a SS/PBCH block index (e.g., denoted as i_SSB) and a timingoffset common for all SS/PBCH blocks in the window (e.g., denoted asO_DSCH in term of the number of possible SS/PBCH block locations). AnSS/PBCH block index can be carried by the DMRS of PBCH in thecorresponding SS/PBCH block (which means the SS/PBCH block index iscorresponding to the DMRS sequence index for a given cell). The commontiming offset can be carried by the content of PBCH (e.g., in PBCHpayload but not MIB). In this approach, the number of DMRS sequences ofPBCH equals the number of SS/PBCH block indices. In this approach, thenumber of bits for representing O_DSCH is determined on the granularityof the offset.

For example, if the granularity of the offset is 1 possible SS/PBCHblock location, the number of bits for presenting O_DSCH could be [log2(N_t)]. For another example, if the granularity of the offset is 2possible SS/PBCH block location (e.g., a slot), the number of bits forpresenting O_DSCH could be [log 2(N_t/2)]. For yet another example, ifthe granularity of the offset is 4 possible SS/PBCH block locations(e.g., 2 slots, which is 1 ms in term of 30 kHz SCS), the number of bitsfor presenting O_DSCH could be [log 2(N_t/4)]. For yet another example,if the granularity of the offset is 8 possible SS/PBCH block locations(e.g., 4 slots, which is 2 ms in term of 30 kHz SCS), the number of bitsfor presenting O_DSCH could be [log 2(N_t/8)]. In this approach, afterreceiving a SS/PBCH block, a UE can determine the location of thereceived SS/PBCH block within the DTTC window as O_DSCH+i_SSB, whereinO_DSCH is carried by the PBCH content of the received SS/PBCH block, andi_SSB is carried by the DMRS sequence of the received SS/PBCH block.

In yet another example, if N_t can be different for standalone andnon-standalone operations, and/or N_t can be different for differentconfigured SCS of SS/PBCH block for non-standalone operation, the numberof DMRS sequences are the same for the above scenarios, and theindication of the common timing offset can be different for the abovescenarios (e.g., different bit-width in the content of PBCH). Forexample, if N_t is different for 15 kHz SCS and 30 kHz SCS of SS/PBCHblock (e.g., N_t for 30 kHz SCS is twice of the N_t for 15 kHz), thenthe number of bits indicating the common timing offset (e.g., in PBCHpayload but not MIB) is different (e.g., the number of bits for 30 kHzSCS is twice of the number of bits for 15 kHz SCS, and 1 bit can bereserved for 15 kHz SCS).

In yet another example, one of the N_t timing hypotheses is expressed intwo parts: a SS/PBCH block index (e.g., denoted as i_SSB) and a timingoffset common for all SS/PBCH blocks in the window (e.g., denoted asO_DSCH). Both SS/PBCH block index and the common timing offset can becarried by the DMRS of PBCH in the corresponding SS/PBCH block, e.g.,the number of DMRS sequences equals to the product of the maximum numberof SS/PBCH blocks transmitted in the DTTC window and the number ofvalues on the common offset O_DSCH. A UE can determine the location ofthe received SS/PBCH block as O_DSCH+i_SSB.

In yet another example, if N_t can be different for standalone andnon-standalone operations, and/or N_t can be different for differentconfigured SCS of SS/PBCH block for non-standalone operation, the numberof DMRS sequences are the same for the above scenarios, and theindication of the common timing offset can be different for the abovescenarios (e.g., different bit-width).

In yet another example, one of the N_t timing hypotheses representingthe index of possible location of SS/PBCH block (e.g., 0≤i_t≤Nt−1) isdirectly indicated to the UE by the combination of DMRS sequence of PBCHin the corresponding SS/PBCH block of the associated DSCH and themapping order of the DMRS sequence (e.g., mapping order from lowest REto highest RE and mapping order from highest RE to lowest RE can be usedfor indicating 1-bit information). For one example, the 3 LSBs of theindex of possible location of SS/PBCH block (e.g., 0≤i_t≤N_t−1) iscarried by DMRS of PBCH, and the remaining part is indicated by themapping order of the sequence. The number of DMRS sequences of PBCHequals 8 in this example.

In yet another example, if N_t can be different for standalone andnon-standalone operations, and/or N_t can be different for differentconfigured SCS of SS/PBCH block for non-standalone operation, the numberof DMRS sequences are the same for the above scenarios, and theindication of remaining timing information in other signal/channel canbe different for the above scenarios (e.g., whether or not to utilizethe mapping order to indicate information).

In yet another example, one of the N_t timing hypotheses representingthe index of possible location of SS/PBCH block (e.g., 0≤i_t≤N_t−1) isindicated to the UE by the combination of DMRS sequence of PBCH in thecorresponding SS/PBCH block of the associated DSCH and othersignal/channel of the associated DSCH (e.g., PBCH content). For oneexample, the SS/PBCH block index is carried by DMRS of PBCH, and PBCHindicates the location of the corresponding SS/PBCH block in term of thegroup index with group size equal to the granularity of possiblestarting location. For example, if the granularity of possible startinglocation is denoted as G_SSB, in term of the number of possible SS/PBCHblock locations, then the whole DTTC window can be grouped intoN_t/G_SSB groups indexed from 0 to N_t/G_SSB−1, and the group index forthe corresponding SS/PBCH block is indicated to the UE in PBCH content,such that the UE can determine the timing within the DTTC window as wellas the location of the received SS/PBCH block within the transmittedburst (e.g., for rate matching purpose).

In yet another example, one of the above approaches of this embodimentcan be combined with NR specification such that the above approach ofthis embodiment is utilized to indicate timing information for SS/PBCHblocks in the DTTC window, and NR specification (e.g., DMRS of PBCH andcontent of PBCH) is utilized to indicate the timing information forSS/PBCH blocks outside the DTTC, wherein the DMRS sequences for SS/PBCHblocks in the DTTC window do not coincide with the ones for SS/PBCHblocks outside the DTTC window, in a given cell, such that by detectingthe DMRS sequence of the received SS/PBCH block, a UE is able todistinguish whether the received SS/PBCH block is in or outside a DTTCwindow. For this approach, the number of DMRS sequences for a given cellequals to the summation of 8 (e.g., the number in NR specification) andthe number of DMRS sequences in the above approach.

In one embodiment, the index of DMRS sequence of PBCH in thecorresponding SS/PBCH block for a given cell (e.g., denoted as i_SSB)can be determined by i_SSB=i_t mod L_max, wherein i_t is the index ofpotential location for SS/PBCH block within a DTTC window, and L_max isthe maximum number of transmitted SS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC windowfor a given band (e.g., L_max=8 for a sub7 GHz unlicensed band). In thisembodiment, the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks is effective ascyclically wrapping around the truncated SS/PBCH blocks with fixedmodule value as L_max due to LBT. The UE can further acquire the QCLassumption based on the determined index of DMRS sequence of PBCH in thecorresponding SS/PBCH block (e.g., i_SSB).

In one example, a UE assumes the SS/PBCH blocks in different DTTCwindows with same possible location index are QCLed.

In another example, a UE assumes the SS/PBCH blocks in same and/ordifferent DTTC windows with same index after modeling K are QCLed, whereK is a configurable number for a given band and the index can berepresented by the index of the corresponding DMRS sequence of PBCH.

In one example, K can be in the form of L_max/k, wherein L_max is themaximum number of transmitted SS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC window for agiven band (e.g., L_max=8 for a sub7 GHz unlicensed band), and k is aconfigurable integer, then, K represents the granularity of blinddetection when soft combining SS/PBCH blocks, and the monitoringlocations with respect to mod K is a superset of the monitoringlocations for mod L_max.

In another example, K can be configured from the set or a subset of theset of any integer smaller or equal to L_max, wherein L_max is themaximum number of transmitted SS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC window for agiven band (e.g., L_max=8 for a sub7 GHz unlicensed band). In oneapproach, the configuration of K is indicated by the payload of PBCH(e.g., the MIB of PBCH). In another approach, the configuration of K isindicated by RMSI. In yet another approach, the configuration of K canbe obtained from bitmap in RMSI indicating the actually transmittedSS/PBCH block(s) and no explicit configuration is required in PBCH.

For one example of this example, K can be configurable using 1 bit inthe payload of PBCH (e.g., the MIB of PBCH) or RMSI from {4, 8} for asub7 GHz unlicensed band. For another example of this embodiment, K canbe configurable using 2 bits in the payload of PBCH (e.g., the MIB ofPBCH) or RMSI from {2, 4, 8} for a sub7 GHz unlicensed band.

For yet another example of this embodiment, K can be configurable using2 bits in the payload of PBCH (e.g., the MIB of PBCH) or RMSI from {1,2, 4, 8} for a sub7 GHz unlicensed band. For yet another example of thisembodiment, K can be configurable using 3 bits in the payload of PBCH(e.g., the MIB of PBCH) or RMSI from {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} for a sub7GHz unlicensed band.

In one consideration, K does not necessarily equal to the number ofactually transmitted SS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC window for a givenband, but can be larger or equal to number of actually transmittedSS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC window for a given band, hence, a UE doesnot expect the number of actually transmitted SS/PBCH blocks within aDTTC window for a given band (e.g., by using the bitmap in RMSI and/orRRC indicating the actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s)) to be largerthan K, and/or a UE does not expect the bit in the bitmap in RMSI and/orRRC indicating the actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s) (e.g.ssb-PositionsInBurst) taking a value of 1, wherein the bit correspondsto the SS/PBCH block with index larger than K.

In another consideration, a UE expects a bit in the bitmap in RMSIand/or RRC indicating the actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s) may takea value of 1 only when the bit is within the first K bits. In thisembodiment, the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks is effective ascyclically wrapping around the truncated SS/PBCH blocks based on moduleof K due to LBT.

In yet another consideration, when K is not configured to the UE (e.g.,by PBCH content or RMSI for serving cell, and/or by RRC parameter forneighboring cell), the UE assumes a default value of K. For example, inthe initial access procedure, wherein the UE may not have theinformation of K, the UE can assume a default value of K. For anotherexample, in the RRM measurement procedure (e.g., either serving cell orneighboring cell), wherein the UE is not configured a value K, the UEcan assume a default value of K.

In one example of the default value of K can be 8. In another example ofthe default value of K can be 1. In yet another example of the defaultvalue of K can be 4. In yet another example of the default value of Kcan be 2. In one approach for the indication of K, when K is indicatedin PBCH payload, K can be indicated using a new field in MIB. In anotherapproach for the indication of K, when K is indicated in PBCH payload, Kcan be indicated using 2 MSBs, or 2 LSBs, or 2nd and 3rd LSBs of fieldcontrolResourceSetZero inpdcch-ConfigSIB1 in MIB.

In yet another approach for the indication of K, when K is indicated inPBCH payload, K can be indicated using 2 MSBs, or 2 LSBs, or 2nd and 3rdLSBs of field searchSpaceZero in pdcch-ConfigSIB1 in MIB.

In yet another approach for the indication of K, when K is indicated inPBCH payload, K can be indicated using the combination of at least 1 MSBor LSB of field searchSpaceZero in pdcch-ConfigSIB1, 1 bit of fieldsubCarrierSpacingCommon, or 1 MSB or LSB of field controlResourceSetZeroin pdcch-ConfigSIB1 in MIB.

In yet another approach for the indication of K, when K is indicated inPBCH payload, K can be indicated using the combination of 1 MSB or LSBof field controlResourceSetZero in pdcch-ConfigSIB1, 1 bit of fieldsubCarrierSpacingCommon, or 1 MSB or 1 LSB of fieldssb-SubcarrierOffset, in MIB.

In yet another approach for the indication of K, when K is indicated inPBCH payload, K can be indicated using 2 MSB or 2 LSBs of fieldssb-SubcarrierOffset.

In yet another approach for the indication of K, when K is indicated inPBCH payload, K can be indicated using the combination of 1 MSB or LSBof field controlResourceSetZero in pdcch-ConfigSIB1 and 1 bit of fieldsearchSpaceZero in pdcch-ConfigSIB1 in MIB.

In another embodiment, the index of DMRS sequence of the correspondingSS/PBCH block for a given cell (e.g., denoted as i_SSB) can bedetermined by i_SSB=i_t mod (Lmax/G), wherein i_t is the index ofpotential location for transmitting grouped QCLed SS/PBCH blocks withgroup size as G, and L_max is the maximum number of transmitted SS/PBCHblocks within a DTTC window for a given band (e.g., L_max=8 for a sub7GHz unlicensed band).

In such embodiment, the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks is effective ascyclically wrapping around the truncated SS/PBCH blocks with fixedmodule value as L_max/G due to LBT.

In one example, a UE assumes the SS/PBCH blocks in different DTTCwindows with same index are QCLed, where the index can be represented bythe index of the corresponding DMRS sequence of PBCH. In anotherexample, a UE assumes the SS/PBCH blocks in different DTTC windows withsame index after modeling K are QCLed, where K is indicated in PBCHcontent, and the index can be represented by the index of thecorresponding DMRS sequence of PBCH.

In yet another embodiment, the index of DMRS sequence of thecorresponding SS/PBCH block for a given cell (e.g., denoted as i_SSB)can be determined by i_SSB=i_t mod K, wherein i_t is the index ofpotential location for transmitting SS/PBCH blocks, and K is aconfigurable number for a given band. For one approach of thisembodiment, K can be in the form of L_max/k, wherein L_max is themaximum number of transmitted SS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC window for agiven band (e.g., L_max=8 for a sub7 GHz unlicensed band), and k is aconfigurable integer, then, K represents the granularity of blinddetection when soft combining SS/PBCH blocks, and the monitoringlocations with respect to mod K is a superset of the monitoringlocations for mod L_max.

For another approach of this embodiment, K can be configured from theset or a subset of the set of any integer smaller or equal to L_max,wherein L_max is the maximum number of transmitted SS/PBCH blocks withina DTTC window for a given band (e.g., L_max=8 for a sub7 GHz unlicensedband).

In one approach, the configuration of K is indicated by the payload ofPBCH (e.g., the MIB of PBCH). In another approach, the configuration ofK is indicated by RMSI. In yet another approach, the configuration of Kcan be obtained from bitmap in RMSI indicating the actually transmittedSS/PBCH block(s) and no explicit configuration is required in PBCH. Forone example of this embodiment, K can be configurable using 1 bit in thepayload of PBCH (e.g., the MIB of PBCH) or RMSI from {4, 8} for a sub7GHz unlicensed band. For another example of this embodiment, K can beconfigurable using 2 bits in the payload of PBCH (e.g., the MIB of PBCH)or RMSI from {2, 4, 8} for a sub7 GHz unlicensed band. For yet anotherexample of this embodiment, K can be configurable using 2 bits in thepayload of PBCH (e.g., the MIB of PBCH) or RMSI from {1, 2, 4, 8} for asub7 GHz unlicensed band.

For yet another example, K can be configurable using 3 bits in thepayload of PBCH (e.g., the MIB of PBCH) or RMSI from {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8} for a sub7 GHz unlicensed band. In one consideration, K does notnecessarily equal to the number of actually transmitted SS/PBCH blockswithin a DTTC window for a given band, but can be larger or equal tonumber of actually transmitted SS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC window for agiven band, hence, a UE does not expect the number of actuallytransmitted SS/PBCH blocks within a DTTC window for a given band (e.g.,by using the bitmap in RMSI and/or RRC indicating the actuallytransmitted SS/PBCH block(s)) to be larger than K, and/or a UE does notexpect the bit in the bitmap in RMSI and/or RRC indicating the actuallytransmitted SS/PBCH block(s) taking a value of 1, wherein the bitcorresponds to the SS/PBCH block with index larger than K.

In another consideration, a UE expects a bit in the bitmap in RMSIand/or RRC indicating the actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s) may takea value of 1 only when the bit is within the first K bits. In suchembodiment, the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks is effective ascyclically wrapping around the truncated SS/PBCH blocks based on moduleof K due to LBT.

In one example, a UE assumes the SS/PBCH blocks in different DTTCwindows with same index are QCLed, where the index can be represented bythe index of the corresponding DMRS sequence of PBCH. In anotherexample, a UE assumes the SS/PBCH blocks in different DTTC windows withsame index after modeling K are QCLed, where K is indicated in PBCHcontent or RMSI, and the index can be represented by the index of thecorresponding DMRS sequence of PBCH. In yet another consideration, whenK is not configured to the UE (e.g., by PBCH content or RMSI for servingcell, and/or by RRC parameter for neighboring cell), the UE assumes adefault value of K.

For example, in the initial access procedure, wherein the UE may nothave the information of K, the UE can assume a default value of K. Foranother example, in the RRM measurement procedure (e.g., either servingcell or neighboring cell), wherein the UE is not configured a value K,the UE can assume a default value of K. In one example of the defaultvalue of K can be 8. In another example of the default value of K can be1.

In yet another embodiment, the index of DMRS sequence of thecorresponding SS/PBCH block for a given cell (e.g., denoted as i_SSB)can be determined by i_SSB=i_t-O_DSCH, wherein i_t is the index ofpotential location for SS/PBCH block, and O_DSCH is the commontime-domain offset for the whole DSCH due to LBT. In such embodiment,the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks is effective as shifted by a groupoffset of O_DSCH due to LBT.

In one example, a UE assumes the SS/PBCH blocks in different DTTCwindows with same index are QCLed, where the index can be represented bythe index of the corresponding DMRS sequence of PBCH.

In one embodiment, a bitmap in RMSI and/or RRC indicates the actuallytransmitted SS/PBCH block(s), e.g., the i-th bit in the bitmap takingvalue of 1 means an SS/PBCH block is actually transmitted in one of thepossible SS/PBCH block locations in the DTTC window, wherein the indexof the possible SS/PBCH block locations after modulo operation withrespect to K equals to i−1, and K is the configured value for QCLdetermination. In this embodiment, the bitmap can be considered as theSS/PBCH blocks intended to transmit, and the actual location fortransmission is subject to LBT result.

In another embodiment, a bitmap in RMSI and/or RRC indicates theactually transmitted SS/PBCH block groups with group size G, byindicating the associated SS/PBCH block index, e.g., the i-th group of Gbits in the bitmap taking value of 1 means the group of G QCLed SS/PBCHblocks with SS/PBCH block index i−1 are all transmitted.

In yet another embodiment, a gNB may guarantee the transmission of DSCHwithin a DTTC window is contiguous in time domain subject to regulation(e.g., no gap larger than 16 us in time domain). If the configuration ofthe bitmap for the indication of actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s)has non-contiguous bits taking value of “1,” which means gap(s) existsbetween transmissions of SS/PBCH blocks, there may be othersignal/channel, e.g., PDCCH and/or PDSCH of RMSI, OSI, or paging, tofill in the gap(s). Examples are shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example configuration of bitmap 1200 with filledgap in time domain according to embodiments of the present disclosure.An embodiment of the configuration of bitmap 1200 shown in FIG. 12 isfor illustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG.12 can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

In example 1 and example 2 of FIG. 12, the configuration of bitmap doesnot lead to any gap in time-domain. In example 3 and example 4 of FIG.12, the configuration of bitmap leads to gap(s) in time domain andrequires other signal/channel to fill in the gap(s) in order to betransmitted.

In yet another embodiment, if the DTTC window duration D_DTTC is largerthan 5 ms (e.g., 6 ms), and/or the DTTC window is configured to beacross a half frame boundary, the half frame indicator in PBCH payloaddoes not change for all SS/PBCH blocks in the DTTC window (e.g., alwaysthe same as the half frame indicator corresponding to the first possiblelocation for the transmission of SS/PBCH block within the DTTC window).

In yet another embodiment, if the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks iscyclically wrapping around based on modeling value K (e.g., K can befixed as L_max or L_max/G, or indicated in PBCH content as inembodiments of the present disclosure), there is an indication of thelocation of the corresponding SS/PBCH block within the wrapping aroundmodeling value K (e.g., indicating the location of 1 to K within K). Inone example, the indication in is PBCH content. In another example, theindication is in RMSI.

In yet another embodiment, if the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks iscyclically wrapping around based on modeling value K (e.g., K can befixed as L_max or L_max/G, or indicated in PBCH content as inembodiments of the present disclosure), there is an indication of thelocation of the first SS/PBCH block within the burst of SS/PBCH blocks.In one example, the indication is in PBCH content. In another example,the indication is in RMSI. In one example, the indication is in the termof the SS/PBCH block index of the first SS/PBCH block. In anotherexample, the indication is floor (the SS/PBCH block index of the firstSS/PBCH block/K). In yet another example, the indication is floor (theSS/PBCH block index of the first SS/PBCH block/L_max). In yet anotherexample, the indication is floor (the SS/PBCH block index of the firstSS/PBCH block/K). In yet another example, the indication is floor (theSS/PBCH block index of the first SS/PBCH block/(Lmax/G)).

In yet another embodiment, a UE assumes the content of RMSI is the samefor a frequency layer, and the configuration of the actually transmittedSS/PBCH block(s) in RMSI maintains the same regardless of the LBTresults.

In one example, a UE can reinterpret the content of the bitmap in RMSIand/or RRC for the actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s) based on theindication of timing and/or wrapping around or shifted offsetinformation due to LBT. In this example, the bitmap in RMSI and/or RRCcan be understood as the intended actually transmitted SS/PBCH blocks,and the corresponding actually transmitted SS/PBCH block (e.g.,represented by the index of DMRS sequence of SS/PBCH block) can bedetermined based on the indication of timing and/or wrapping around orshifted offset information due to LBT.

For example, if a common timing offset, e.g., O_DSCH expressed in termof number of SS/PBCH block locations, is indicated to the UE, the UE candetermine that i-th bit in the bitmap taking value of 1 means theSS/PBCH block with index (O_DSCH+i−1) mod L_max is actually transmitted,in the transmission scheme wherein the whole DSCH is shifted due to LBT.

In another example, if the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks is cyclicallywrapping around based on module of K due to LBT, wherein K is indicated,then a SS/PBCH block with detected index i_SSB corresponding to i-th bitin the bitmap indicating actually transmitted SS/PBCH blocks, whereini=i_SSB+1-K if i_SSB≥K, and i=i_SSB+1 if i_SSB<K.

In yet another embodiment, configuration of the actually transmittedSS/PBCH block(s) in RMSI can be different subject to the LBT result,such that the same bitmap applies to all the actually transmittedSS/PBCH blocks on the same frequency layer within the same DTTC window,and the bitmap can be different across different DTTC windows on thesame frequency layer.

In yet another embodiment, if the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks iscyclically wrapped around, the allowed starting location for thetransmission of DSCH including SS/PBCH blocks may depend on at least theconfiguration of bitmap indicating the actually transmitted SS/PBCHblock(s) in RMSI.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example allowed starting of transmission of DSCH1300 based on bitmap of indicating actually transmitted SS/PBCH blocksaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. An embodiment of theallowed starting of transmission of DSCH 1300 shown in FIG. 13 is forillustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 13can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

In one example (e.g., example 1 in FIG. 13), when the bitmap indicatingthe actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s) in RMSI takes value of “1” forevery bit, every possible predefined starting location for DSCHtransmission can be used based on the LBT result.

In another example (e.g., example 2 in FIG. 13), when the bitmapindicating the actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s) in RMSI does nottake value of “1” for every bit, there could be a gap in time domainafter some SS/PBCH blocks are cyclically wrapped around due to LBT. Ifthere is no other signal(s)/channel(s) transmitted to fill in the gap,the transmission of DSCH may not be allowed.

In yet another example (e.g., example 3 in FIG. 13), when the bitmapindicating the actually transmitted SS/PBCH block(s) in RMSI does nottake value of “1” for every bit, there could be a gap in time domainafter some SS/PBCH blocks are cyclically wrapped around due to LBT. Ifthere is other signal(s)/channel(s) transmitted to fill in the gap, thetransmission of DSCH can be allowed. In one scenario, the QCLedPDCCH/PDSCH of RMSI, OSI, or paging is not expected to be multiplexed inthe slots prior to the transmission of SS/PBCH block in the same DTTCwindow, then the multiplexed signal(s)/channel(s) in the gap cannot bethe QCLed PDCCH/PDSCH of RMSI, OSI, or paging for SS/PBCH blocks to betransmitted in later slots.

In yet another embodiment, the indication of the actually transmittedSS/PBCH block(s) in the format of a bitmap is in the content of PBCH. Inone sub-embodiment, the indication maintains the same for all SS/PBCHblocks on the same frequency layer. In another sub-embodiment, theindication can be different subject to the LBT result, such that thesame indication of bitmap applies to all the actually transmittedSS/PBCH blocks on the same frequency layer within the same DTTC window,and the indication of bitmap can be different across different DTTCwindows on the same frequency layer.

In yet another embodiment, a UE does not expect to receive PDCCH orPDSCH of at least one of RMSI, OSI, or paging, which is QCLed with thereceived SS/PBCH block, from previous slot(s) comparing to the slotcontaining received SS/PBCH block within the DTTC window.

In NR specification, for a given cell, the number of DMRS sequences ofPBCH is 8, which corresponds to an SS/PBCH block index in a half frameor part of it (e.g., 3 LSB of the SS/PBCH block index for FR2).

In one embodiment, the number of DMRS sequences of PBCH can be largerthan 8, for a given cell, at least for some scenarios. For example, thenumber of DMRS sequence for a given cell (e.g., denoted as N_DMRS) couldequal to N_t (e.g., the number of possible SS/PBCH block locations in aDTTC window, or the number of possible locations to carry a pair ofQCLed SS/PBCH blocks in a DTTC window) in the other embodiments of thepresent disclosure, or could equal to the product of the maximum numberof SS/PBCH blocks transmitted in the DTTC window and the number ofvalues on the common offset O_DSCH in the other embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

In such embodiment, the DMRS sequence of PBCH can be constructed by aQPSK modulated Gold-sequence. The Gold sequence is XOR of twoM-sequences, where one of the M-sequence s_(A)(n) is generated withgenerator g_(A)(X)=x³¹+x³+1 and initial condition c_(A)=1, and the otherM-sequence s_(B)(n) is generated with generator g_(B)(x)=x³¹+x³+x²+x+1and initial condition c_(B)=c0*(i_t+1)*([N_ID{circumflex over( )}cell/4]+1)+c1*(i_t+1)+mod(N_ID{circumflex over ( )}cell,4), where inN_ID{circumflex over ( )}cell is the cell ID, i_t is the timinginformation carried by the DMRS sequence with 0≤i_t≤N_DMRS−1, and c0 andc1 are predefined integers. There is a possible output shift offsetNc=1600 such that the QPSK modulated Gold-sequences(n)=(1−2*((s_(A)(2*n+Nc)+s_(B)(2*n+Nc)) mod2))/√2+j*(1−2*((s_(A)(2*n+Nc+1)+s_(B)(2*n+Nc+i)) mod 2))/√2. s(n) istruncated to the desired DMRS sequence length and mapped to thecorresponding REs for DMRS.

In one example, N_DMRS=10. For this value of N_DMRS, parameters c0 andc1 can be selected such that the real part of (maximum and/or mean)normalized cross-correlation is minimized (for both inter-cell andintra-cell scenario). In one example, c0=2{circumflex over ( )}11 andc1=2{circumflex over ( )}6. In another example, c0=1 and c1=2{circumflexover ( )}15.

In another example, N_DMRS=16. For this value of N_DMRS, parameters c0and c1 can be selected such that the real part of (maximum and/or mean)normalized cross-correlation is minimized (for both inter-cell andintra-cell scenario). In one example, c0=2{circumflex over ( )}11 andc1=2{circumflex over ( )}6. In another example, c0=1 and c1=2{circumflexover ( )}14. In yet another example, c0=2{circumflex over ( )}16 andc1=2{circumflex over ( )}3.

In yet another example, N_DMRS=20. For this value of N_DMRS, parametersc0 and c1 can be selected such that the real part of (maximum and/ormean) normalized cross-correlation is minimized (for both inter-cell andintra-cell scenario). In one example, c0=2{circumflex over ( )}11 andc1=2{circumflex over ( )}6. In another example, c0=2{circumflex over( )}16 and c1=2{circumflex over ( )}3. In yet another example,c0=2{circumflex over ( )}12 and c1=2{circumflex over ( )}4. In yetanother example, c0=2{circumflex over ( )}16 and c1=2{circumflex over( )}3.

In yet another example, N_DMRS=12. For this value of N_DMRS, parametersc0 and c1 can be selected such that the real part of (maximum and/ormean) normalized cross-correlation is minimized (for both inter-cell andintra-cell scenario). In one example, c0=2{circumflex over ( )}11 andc1=2{circumflex over ( )}6. In another example, c0=1 and c1=2{circumflexover ( )}15.

DSCH can have multiple possible location within a DTTC window fortransmission based on LBT result. The granularity of the startinglocation for DSCH transmission is denoted as G_SSB, which is defined interm of the number of possible SS/PBCH block locations. For example, ifG_SSB=1, every possible SS/PBCH block location within the DTTC windowcould be used for the starting location of DSCH transmission, regardlessthe transmission is shifted or wrapped around due to LBT. For anotherexample, if G_SSB=2, every 2 possible SS/PBCH block locations (e.g., aslot) within the DTTC window could be used for the starting location ofDSCH transmission, regardless the transmission is shifted or wrappedaround due to LBT.

For yet another example, if G_SSB=4, every 4 possible SS/PBCH blocklocations (e.g., 1 ms in 30 kHz SCS) within the DTTC window could beused for the starting location of DSCH transmission, regardless thetransmission is shifted or wrapped around due to LBT. For yet anotherexample, if G_SSB=8, every 8 possible SS/PBCH block locations (e.g., 2ms in 30 kHz SCS) within the DTTC window could be used for the startinglocation of DSCH transmission, regardless the transmission is shifted orwrapped around due to LBT.

In one embodiment, the granularity of the starting location G_SSB isdependent on the LBT type. For example, if Cat2 LBT is utilized(assuming the condition for applying Cat2 LBT is satisfied), thegranularity of the starting location is G_SSB-Cat2, and if Cat4 LBT isutilized, the granularity of the starting location is G_SSB-Cat4, wherein G_SSB-Cat2 is not the same as G_SSB-Cat4 (e.g.,G_SSB-Cat2>G_SSB-Cat4). For a particular instance, G_SSB-Cat2=4, andG_SSB-Cat4=1.

In another embodiment, the granularity of the starting location G_SSB isthe same regardless of the LBT type. For example, the granularity of thestarting location is 4, regardless of Cat2 or Cat4 LBT is utilized. Foranother example, the granularity of the starting location is 1,regardless of Cat2 or Cat4 LBT is utilized.

In one embodiment, COT acquired by the gNB has remaining duration afterscheduled transmission of DSCH, the gNB can repeat the transmission ofthe whole DSCH burst within the COT and indicate the number ofrepetitions in PBCH. For one example, the indication is in PBCH contentbut not in MIB. For one example, there is an upper bound on the numberof repetition (e.g., subject to the bit-width of the indication inPBCH).

In another embodiment, the transmission of SS/PBCH blocks within a DTTCwindow can be repeated, and there is an indication of the number ofrepetitions in PBCH. For example, PBCH indicates a number ofrepetitions, e.g., G, then a UE assumes every G SS/PBCH blocks arerepeatedly transmitted and QCLed.

One or more of the following approaches can be supported for timing andQCL assumption indication for NR-U.

In one embodiment, the 4^(th) LSB of SFN is in MIB for NR-U, such thatthere can be one more bit for indicating LBT related timing informationand/or QCL assumption information, wherein this one more bit is notcontained in MIB but in PBCH payload.

In another embodiment, the bit-width for MIB is determined as 16 forNR-U, such that there can be more bits (e.g., 8 bits more) forindicating LBT related timing information and/or QCL assumptioninformation.

In yet another embodiment, the L_max can be equal to 4 and the halfradio frame indicator is carried by DMRS sequence of PBCH, such thatthere is no indication of half frame in PBCH content, and the saved bitcan be for indicating LBT related timing information and/or QCLassumption information, wherein this one more bit is not contained inMIB but in PBCH payload.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a method 1400 for timing configurationof discovery signal and channel according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure, as may be performed by a UE (e.g., 111-116 as illustrated inFIG. 1). An embodiment of the method 1400 shown in FIG. 14 is forillustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 14can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the method 1400 begins at step 1402. In step1402, the UE determines a set of discovery signal and channel (DSCH)transmission windows based on a window periodicity, a window duration,and a window offset.

In step 1402, the window offset for the DSCH transmission window of theset of DSCH transmission windows is fixed, and the DSCH transmissionwindow of the set of DSCH transmission windows starts from a boundary ofhalf frame.

Subsequently, the UE, in step 1404, determines a first set of QCLedsynchronization signals and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) blockswithin a DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmissionwindows, wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is quasi-co-located(QCLed).

Next, the UE, in step 1404, determines a second set of QCLed SS/PBCHblocks across at least two DSCH transmission windows, the at least twoDSCH transmission windows being different DSCH windows of the set ofDSCH transmission windows. In this step 1404, the second set of SS/PBCHblocks is QCLed.

In one embodiment, the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is determined to beQCLed, if first SS/PBCH blocks in the first set of SS/PBCH blocksinclude a same value of (I mod K); and the second set of SS/PBCH blocksare determined to be QCLed, if second SS/PBCH blocks in the second setof SS/PBCH blocks include a same value of (I mod K), where I is an indexof DMRS sequence associated with PBCH of the first SS/PBCH blocks or thesecond SS/PBCH blocks, and K is determined as one from {1, 2, 4, 8}based on a combination of a first field of subCarrierSpacingCommon and aleast significant bit (LSB) of a second field ssb-SubcarrierOffset,wherein the first field and second field being included in a masterinformation block (MIB) of the first and second set of SS/PBCH blocks.

Finally in step 1408, the UE receives, from a base station (BS) over adownlink channel supporting the shared spectrum channel access, at leastone SS/PBCH block that is located in the first set of SS/PBCH blocks orthe second set of SS/PBCH blocks based on QCL information of the firstset of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blocks within theDSCH transmission window of the determined set of DSCH transmissionwindows.

In one embodiment, the UE determines the window periodicity for the DSCHtransmission window of the set of the DSCH transmission windows as aperiodicity of the at least one SS/PBCH block in the DSCH transmissionwindow. In such embodiment, the UE does not receive the at least oneSS/PBCH block outside the determined set of DSCH transmission windows.

In one embodiment, the UE receives the at least one SS/PBCH block basedon candidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmission windowof the set of DSCH transmission windows. In such embodiment, a number ofthe candidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmissionwindow of the set of DSCH transmission windows is determined based on asub-carrier spacing (SCS) of the at least one SS/PBCH block, and amaximum number of the candidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCHtransmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows isdetermined a 20 for the SCS of the at least one SS/PBCH block as 30 kHz,and a 10 for the SCS of the at least one SS/PBCH block as 15 kHz.

In one embodiment, the UE determines a timing instance of the receivedat least one SS/PBCH block based on an index of candidate SS/PBCH blocklocation within the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows.

In such embodiment, three least significant bits (LSBs) of the index ofthe candidate SS/PBCH block location is determined based on ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) associated with PBCH of thereceived at least one SS/PBCH block; fourth LSB of the index of thecandidate SS/PBCH block location is determined based on a bit ā_(Ā+7) ,in a payload of PBCH of the received at least one SS/PBCH block, if amaximum number of candidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCHtransmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows is 10 or 20;and fifth LSB of the index of the candidate SS/PBCH block location isdetermined based on a bit ā_(Ā+6) in the payload of PBCH of the receivedat least one SS/PBCH block, if a maximum number of candidate SS/PBCHblock locations within the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows is 20.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

None of the description in this application should be read as implyingthat any particular element, step, or function is an essential elementthat must be included in the claims scope. The scope of patented subjectmatter is defined only by the claims. Moreover, none of the claims areintended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the exact words “means for”are followed by a participle.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communicationsystem supporting a shared spectrum channel access, the UE comprising:at least one processor configured to: determine a set of discoverysignal and channel (DSCH) transmission windows based on a windowperiodicity, a window duration, and a window offset; determine a firstset of synchronization signals and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH)blocks within a DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmissionwindows, wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is quasi-co-located(QCLed); and determine a second set of SS/PBCH blocks across at leasttwo DSCH transmission windows, the at least two DSCH transmissionwindows being different DSCH windows of the set of DSCH transmissionwindows, wherein the second set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed; and at leastone transceiver operably connected to the at least one processor, the atleast one transceiver configured to receive, from a base station (BS)over a downlink channel supporting the shared spectrum channel access,at least one SS/PBCH block that is located in the first set of SS/PBCHblocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blocks based on QCL information ofthe first set of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blockswithin the DSCH transmission window of the determined set of DSCHtransmission windows.
 2. The UE of claim 1, wherein: the at least oneprocessor is further configured to determine the window periodicity forthe DSCH transmission window of the set of the DSCH transmission windowsas a periodicity of the at least one SS/PBCH block in the DSCHtransmission window; and the at least one transceiver does not receivethe at least one SS/PBCH block outside the determined set of DSCHtransmission windows.
 3. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to determine the window duration for theDSCH transmission window of the set of the DSCH transmission windows,the window duration being configured from {0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} in a unitof milliseconds.
 4. The UE of claim 1, wherein the window offset for theDSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows isfixed, and the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmissionwindows starts from a boundary of half frame.
 5. The UE of claim 1,wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured to receivethe at least one SS/PBCH block based on candidate SS/PBCH blocklocations within the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows, and wherein: a number of the candidate SS/PBCHblock locations within the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows is determined based on a sub-carrier spacing (SCS)of the at least one SS/PBCH block; and a maximum number of the candidateSS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmission window of the setof DSCH transmission windows is determined a 20 for the SCS of the atleast one SS/PBCH block as 30 kHz, and a 10 for the SCS of the at leastone SS/PBCH block as 15 kHz.
 6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at leastone processor is further configured to determine a timing instance ofthe received at least one SS/PBCH block based on an index of candidateSS/PBCH block location within the DSCH transmission window of the set ofDSCH transmission windows, and wherein: three least significant bits(LSBs) of the index of the candidate SS/PBCH block location isdetermined based on a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) associatedwith PBCH of the received at least one SS/PBCH block; fourth LSB of theindex of the candidate SS/PBCH block location is determined based on abit ā_(Ā+7) in a payload of PBCH of the received at least one SS/PBCHblock, if a maximum number of candidate SS/PBCH block locations withinthe DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows is10 or 20; and fifth LSB of the index of the candidate SS/PBCH blocklocation is determined based on a bit ā_(Ā+6) in the payload of PBCH ofthe received at least one SS/PBCH block, if a maximum number ofcandidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmission window ofthe set of DSCH transmission windows is
 20. 7. The UE of claim 1,wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is determined to be QCLed, iffirst SS/PBCH blocks in the first set of SS/PBCH blocks include a samevalue of (I mod K); and the second set of SS/PBCH blocks are determinedto be QCLed, if second SS/PBCH blocks in the second set of SS/PBCHblocks include a same value of (I mod K), where I is an index of DMRSsequence associated with PBCH of the first SS/PBCH blocks or the secondSS/PBCH blocks, and K is determined as one from {1, 2, 4, 8} based on acombination of a first field of subCarrierSpacingCommon and a leastsignificant bit (LSB) of a second field ssb-SubcarrierOffset, whereinthe first field and second field being included in a master informationblock (MIB) of the first and second set of SS/PBCH blocks.
 8. A basestation (BS) in a wireless communication system supporting a sharedspectrum channel access, the BS comprising: at least one transceiverconfigured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE) over a downlink channelsupporting a shared spectrum channel access, at least one SS/PBCH blockthat is located in a first set of SS/PBCH blocks or a second set ofSS/PBCH blocks within at least one discovery signal and channel (DSCH)transmission window of a set of DSCH transmission windows; and at leastone processor operably connected to the at least one transceiver, the atleast one processor configured to: determine the set of DSCHtransmission windows based on a window periodicity, a window duration,and a window offset; determine the first set of SS/PBCH blocks within aDSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows,wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is quasi-co-located (QCLed); anddetermine the second set of SS/PBCH blocks across at least two DSCHtransmission windows, the at least two DSCH transmission windows beingdifferent DSCH windows of the set of DSCH transmission windows, whereinthe second set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed.
 9. The BS of claim 8,wherein: the at least one processor is further configured to determinethe window periodicity for the DSCH transmission window of the set ofthe DSCH transmission windows as a periodicity of the at least oneSS/PBCH block in the DSCH transmission window; and the at least onetransceiver does not transmit the at least one SS/PBCH block outside theset of DSCH transmission windows.
 10. The BS of claim 8, wherein the atleast one processor is further configured to determine the windowduration for the DSCH transmission window of the set of the DSCHtransmission windows, the window duration being configured from {0.5, 1,2, 3, 4, 5} in a unit of milliseconds.
 11. The BS of claim 8, whereinthe window offset for the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows is fixed, and the DSCH transmission window of theset of DSCH transmission windows starts from a boundary of half frame.12. The BS of claim 8, wherein the at least one transceiver is furtherconfigured to transmit the at least one SS/PBCH block based on candidateSS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmission window of the setof DSCH transmission windows, and wherein: a number of the candidateSS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmission window of the setof DSCH transmission windows is determined based on a sub-carrierspacing (SCS) of the at least one SS/PBCH block; and a maximum number ofthe candidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmissionwindow of the set of DSCH transmission windows is determined a 20 forthe SCS of the at least one SS/PBCH block as 30 kHz, and a 10 for theSCS of the at least one SS/PBCH block as 15 kHz.
 13. The BS of claim 8,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine atiming instance of the received at least one SS/PBCH block based on anindex of candidate SS/PBCH block location within the DSCH transmissionwindow of the set of DSCH transmission windows, and wherein: three leastsignificant bits (LSBs) of the index of the candidate SS/PBCH blocklocation is determined based on a demodulation reference signal (DMRS)associated with PBCH of the received at least one SS/PBCH block; fourthLSB of the index of the candidate SS/PBCH block location is determinedbased on a bit ā_(Ā+7) in a payload of PBCH of the received at least oneSS/PBCH block, if a maximum number of candidate SS/PBCH block locationswithin the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmissionwindows is 10 or 20; and fifth LSB of the index of the candidate SS/PBCHblock location is determined based on a bit ā_(Ā+6) in the payload ofPBCH of the received at least one SS/PBCH block, if a maximum number ofcandidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmission window ofthe set of DSCH transmission windows is
 20. 14. The BS of claim 8,wherein: the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is determined to be QCLed, iffirst SS/PBCH blocks in the first set of SS/PBCH blocks include a samevalue of (I mod K); and the second set of SS/PBCH blocks are determinedto be QCLed, if second SS/PBCH blocks in the second set of SS/PBCHblocks include a same value of (I mod K) where I is an index of DMRSsequence associated with PBCH of the first SS/PBCH blocks or the secondSS/PBCH blocks, and K is determined as one from {1, 2, 4, 8} based on acombination of a first field of subCarrierSpacingCommon and a leastsignificant bit (LSB) of a second field ssb-SubcarrierOffset, whereinthe first field and second field being included in a master informationblock (MIB) of the first and second set of SS/PBCH blocks.
 15. A methodof a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system supporting ashared spectrum channel access, the method comprising: determining a setof discovery signal and channel (DSCH) transmission windows based on awindow periodicity, a window duration, and a window offset; determininga first set of synchronization signals and physical broadcast channel(SS/PBCH) blocks within a DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows, wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks isquasi-co-located (QCLed); determining a second set of SS/PBCH blocksacross at least two DSCH transmission windows, the at least two DSCHtransmission windows being different DSCH windows of the set of DSCHtransmission windows, wherein the second set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed;and receiving, from a base station (BS) over a downlink channelsupporting the shared spectrum channel access, at least one SS/PBCHblock that is located in the first set of SS/PBCH blocks or the secondset of SS/PBCH blocks based on QCL information of the first set ofSS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blocks within the DSCHtransmission window of the determined set of DSCH transmission windows.16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining the windowperiodicity for the DSCH transmission window of the set of the DSCHtransmission windows as a periodicity of the at least one SS/PBCH blockin the DSCH transmission window; and not receiving the at least oneSS/PBCH block outside the determined set of DSCH transmission windows.17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the windowduration for the DSCH transmission window of the set of the DSCHtransmission windows, the window duration being configured from {0.5, 1,2, 3, 4, 5} milliseconds, and determining the window offset for the DSCHtransmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows, the windowoffset being fixed, and the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows starts from a boundary of half frame.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising receiving the at least oneSS/PBCH block based on candidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCHtransmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows, wherein anumber of the candidate SS/PBCH block locations within the DSCHtransmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows isdetermined based on a sub-carrier spacing (SCS) of the at least oneSS/PBCH block; and a maximum number of the candidate SS/PBCH blocklocations within the DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCHtransmission windows is determined a 20 for the SCS of the at least oneSS/PBCH block as 30 kHz, and a 10 for the SCS of the at least oneSS/PBCH block as 15 kHz.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprisingdetermining a timing instance of the received at least one SS/PBCH blockbased on an index of candidate SS/PBCH block location within the DSCHtransmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows, wherein:three least significant bits (LSBs) of the index of the candidateSS/PBCH block location is determined based on a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) associated with PBCH of the received at least one SS/PBCHblock; fourth LSB of the index of the candidate SS/PBCH block locationis determined based on a bit ā_(Ā+7) in a payload of PBCH of thereceived at least one SS/PBCH block, if a maximum number of candidateSS/PBCH block locations within the DSCH transmission window of the setof DSCH transmission windows is 10 or 20; and fifth LSB of the index ofthe candidate SS/PBCH block location is determined based on a bitā_(Ā+6) in the payload of PBCH of the received at least one SS/PBCHblock, if a maximum number of candidate SS/PBCH block locations withinthe DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows is20.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein: the first set of SS/PBCH blocksis determined to be QCLed, if first SS/PBCH blocks in the first set ofSS/PBCH blocks include a same value of (I mod K); and the second set ofSS/PBCH blocks are determined to be QCLed, if second SS/PBCH blocks inthe second set of SS/PBCH blocks include a same value of (I mod K) whereI is an index of DMRS sequence associated with PBCH of the first SS/PBCHblocks or the second SS/PBCH blocks, and K is determined as one from {1,2, 4, 8} based on a combination of a first field ofsubCarrierSpacingCommon and a least significant bit (LSB) of a secondfield ssb-SubcarrierOffset, wherein the first field and second fieldbeing included in a master information block (MIB) of the first andsecond set of SS/PBCH blocks.